Match Report

The mighty Irons faced a tricky trip north to St. James' Park on the second week of the new season. As the traveling fans arrived to the stadium like drowned rats, both sides knew that the weather conditions were not going to make the beautiful game easy today.

West Ham come off the back of a solid home win against Cardiff City last week while pressure piles on Pardew after their 4-0 drubbing at the Etihad Stadium.

The only change for the Irons was a straight swap with Stewart Downing coming in for Joe Cole, a little unlucky on the Man of the Match last week, prompting insider comments that perhaps the England midfielder is not up to two lots of 90 minutes in consecutive weeks.

So what could Downing offer our attacking threat at a sodden St. James Park? Not a lot really. But then neither did anyone else in the first half with only one shot on target. A few long range efforts from Newcastle aside, there was little for the home team to shout about either and Jussi Jaaskelainen looked understandably relaxed.

West Ham looked most dangerous from set pieces and Winston Reid and Modibo Maiga went close with a couple of headers in the first half that went just over the bar. So 0-0 at half time and job well done for the West Ham defence.

There were a few jitters and a reminder of the James Collins howler at Swansea away this time last season, when the communication between the back four left a little to be desired and nearly let the lively Ben Arfa in on goal.

Yet at the break, West Ham had 1 shot on target whereas Newcastle had 0. West Ham’ possession was 57%, Newcastle 43%, so there was plenty to be cheerful about from a West Ham perspective.

The second half started a little brighter and saw periods of Newcastle dominance, again though it was West Ham with the better of the chances. Downing had a tame shot on target and the new man set up captain Nolan who was unmarked in the six-yard area and shot wide.

Downing was replaced by Joe Cole who was lively from the outset and the introduction of Ravel Morrison was greeted with rapturous applause from the 2,200 West Ham supporters who made the journey.

Morrison looked quick and had the best opportunity of the game when his deflected shot found Maiga who slotted the ball into the back of the net only to find he was three yards offside.

Newcastle also had their fair share of chances and in injury time found a wide cross hitting the inside of the post and falling at the feet of Gouffran who somehow shot over the bar.

So honours even and all in all that seems like a fair result. Both teams could have won the game and I would rather be in West Ham’s position (that is third, by the way) than Newcastle’s and in particular Pardew’s at this stage.